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Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her notable recordings include "Dinah", "Stormy Weather", "Taking a Chance on Love", "Heat Wave", "Supper Time", "Am I Blue?", "Cabin in the Sky", "I'm Coming Virginia", and her version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow". Waters was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award, the first African American to star on her own television show, and the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 31, 1896 (Chester County), Died September 1, 1977 (Chatsworth)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-28592 10-in. 9/25/1923 Down South blues Ross Gorman ; Virginians Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-95605 10-in. 10/16/1935 Hottentot potentate Russell Wooding Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-95606 10-in. 10/16/1935 Thief in the night Russell Wooding Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-028387 10-in. 11/9/1938 You're mine Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-028388 10-in. 11/9/1938 Frankie and Johnnie Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-028389 10-in. 11/9/1938 They say Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-028390 10-in. 11/9/1938 Jeepers creepers Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-035355 10-in. 3/27/1939 Lonesome walls Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-035356 10-in. 3/27/1939 If you ever change your mind Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-035357 10-in. 3/27/1939 What goes up must come down (And baby, you've been flyin' too high) Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-035358 10-in. 3/27/1939 Y' had it comin' to you Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-041552 10-in. 8/15/1939 Bread and gravy Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-041553 10-in. 8/15/1939 Down in my soul Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-041554 10-in. 8/15/1939 Georgia on my mind Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-041555 10-in. 8/15/1939 Stop myself from worrying over you Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter, vocalist  
Victor BS-041556 10-in. 8/15/1939 Old man Harlem Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-041557 10-in. 8/15/1939 Push out (Te-huey, te-huey, te-huey) Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-042717 10-in. 9/22/1939 Baby, what else can I do Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BS-042718 10-in. 9/22/1939 I just got a letter Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0079 10-in. 1/21/1947 Blues in my heart Herman Chittison Trio ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist  
Columbia 81150 10-in. 7/27/1923 Kind lovin' blues Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist  
Columbia 81151 10-in. 7/27/1923 Down South blues Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist  
Columbia W140564 10-in. 4/29/1925 Brother, you've got me wrong Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with oboe and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140565 10-in. 4/29/1925 No one can love me (Like the way you do) Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with saxophone and cornet vocalist  
Columbia W140597 10-in. 5/13/1925 Sweet Georgia Brown Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W140598 10-in. 5/13/1925 Too bad Jim Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W140790 10-in. 7/28/1925 Go back where you stayed last night Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia W140791 10-in. 7/28/1925 Sympathetic Dan Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140792 10-in. 7/28/1925 Down home blues Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140863 10-in. 8/25/1925 Loud speakin' papa (You'd better speak easy to me) Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140864 10-in. 8/25/1925 You can't do what my last man did Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140936 10-in. 9/12/1925 Pickaninny blues Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with ukulele and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141163 10-in. 10/20/1925 Sweet man Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W141164 10-in. 10/20/1925 Dinah Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W141207 10-in. 10/28/1925 No man's mamma Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141208 10-in. 10/28/1925 Tell 'em about me Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia W141209 10-in. 10/28/1925 Maybe not at all Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia W141429 10-in. 12/23/1925 Shake that thing Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141542 10-in. 1/22/1926 I've found a new baby Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141543 10-in. 1/22/1926 Make me a pallet on the floor Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141544 10-in. 1/22/1926 Bring your greenbacks Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141688 10-in. 2/17/1926 After all these years Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141689 10-in. 2/17/1926 Throw dirt in your face Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141690 10-in. 2/17/1926 I'm saving it all for you Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141704 10-in. 2/19/1926 Refrigeratin' papa Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141705 10-in. 2/19/1926 If you can't hold the man you love Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141706 10-in. 2/20/1926 Satisfyin' papa Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia W141707 10-in. 2/20/1926 Sugar Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141708 10-in. 2/20/1926 I wonder what's become of Joe Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141709 10-in. 2/20/1926 You'll want me back Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia W142476 10-in. 7/29/1926 Heebie jeebies Ethel Waters and her Jazz Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano leader, vocalist  
Columbia W142477 10-in. 7/29/1926 Ev'rybody mess aroun' Ethel Waters and her Jazz Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano leader, vocalist  
Columbia W142614 10-in. 9/14/1926 He brought joy to my soul Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer") and vocal ensemble, unaccompanied vocalist  
Columbia W142615 10-in. 9/14/1926 Take what you want Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W142649 10-in. 9/18/1926 I'm coming, Virginia Ethel Waters Singing Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo ("blues singer") and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W142650 10-in. 9/18/1926 We don't need each other any more Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet vocalist  
Columbia W142651 10-in. 9/18/1926 My special friend is back in town Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W142703 10-in. 9/29/1926 It takes a good woman Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W142704 10-in. 9/29/1926 Jersey walk Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W144100 10-in. 5/6/1927 Weary feet Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144101 10-in. 5/6/1927 Smile! Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144102 10-in. 5/6/1927 Home Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144103 10-in. 5/6/1927 Take your black bottom outside Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144404 10-in. 6/28/1927 Big Ben Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144405 10-in. 6/28/1927 Keep an eye on your man Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144406 10-in. 6/28/1927 I want my sweet daddy now Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W144407 10-in. 6/28/1927 Clorinda Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144863 10-in. 10/14/1927 One sweet letter from you Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144864 10-in. 10/14/1927 Someday sweetheart Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144867 10-in. 10/14/1927 Some of these days Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W144868 10-in. 10/14/1927 It hurts so good Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W146871 10-in. 8/21/1928 Lonesome swallow James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146872 10-in. 8/21/1928 Guess who's in town James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146873 10-in. 8/21/1928 My handy man James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146874 10-in. 8/21/1928 Do what you did last night James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146881 10-in. 8/23/1928 West End blues Ethel Waters ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146882 10-in. 8/23/1928 Organ grinder blues Ethel Waters ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146883 10-in. 8/23/1928 Get up off your knees Ethel Waters ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W146884 10-in. 8/23/1928 My baby sure knows how to love Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148531 10-in. 5/14/1929 Birmingham Bertha Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W148532 10-in. 5/14/1929 Am I blue? Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W148670 10-in. 6/6/1929 Second handed man Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia W148671 10-in. 6/7/1929 True blue Lou Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W148672 10-in. 6/7/1929 Do I know what I'm doing? Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W148673 10-in. 6/7/1929 Shoo shoo bogie boo Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W148734 10-in. 7/8/1929 Georgia blues Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148735 10-in. 7/8/1929 I like the way he does it Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148798 10-in. 7/11/1929 Waiting at the end of the road Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W148799 10-in. 7/11/1929 Trav'lin' all alone Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W148804 10-in. 7/11/1929 Long lean lanky mama Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148805 10-in. 7/11/1929 Better keep your eye on your man Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W150159 10-in. 4/1/1930 Porgy Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W150160 10-in. 4/1/1930 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W150562 10-in. 6/3/1930 My kind of a man Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W150563 10-in. 6/3/1930 You brought a new kind of love to me Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W150747 10-in. 8/29/1930 You're lucky to me Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W150748 10-in. 8/29/1930 Memories of you Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W150966 10-in. 11/18/1930 I got rhythm Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W150967 10-in. 11/18/1930 Three little words Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W151298 10-in. 2/10/1931 When your lover has gone Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W151299 10-in. 2/10/1931 Please don't talk about me when I'm gone Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W151613 10-in. 6/16/1931 You can't stop me from lovin' you Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W151614 10-in. 6/16/1931 Without that gal! Ethel Waters Female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W151718 10-in. 8/10/1931 River, stay 'way from my door Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W151719 10-in. 8/10/1931 Shine on, harvest moon Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W152521 10-in. 10/10/1933 Heat wave Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152522 10-in. 10/10/1933 Harlem on my mind Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152566 10-in. 11/27/1933 I just couldn't take it, baby Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152567 10-in. 11/27/1933 A hundred years from today Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Brunswick 12689-12691 10-in. 3/11/1924 I ain’t gonna marry, ain’t gonna settle down Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five ; Viola McCoy Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet songwriter  
Decca 38349 10-in. 8/20/1934 Miss Otis regrets Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38350 10-in. 8/20/1934 Dinah Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38351 10-in. 8/20/1934 When it's sleepy time down South Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38352 10-in. 8/20/1934 Moonglow Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38548 10-in. 9/5/1934 Give me a heart to sing to Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38549 10-in. 9/5/1934 I ain't gonna sin no more Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38550 10-in. 9/5/1934 Trade mark Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 38551 10-in. 9/5/1934 You're going to leave the old home, Jim-1 Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 63130 10-in. 1/5/1938 You're a sweetheart Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 63131 10-in. 1/5/1938 How can I face this worried world alone? Ethel Waters vocalist  
Decca 63132 10-in. 1/5/1938 I'll get along somehow Ethel Waters vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Waters, Ethel," accessed May 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683.

Waters, Ethel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683.

"Waters, Ethel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ethel Waters

Discogs: Ethel Waters

Allmusic: Ethel Waters

Grove: Ethel Waters

IMDb: Ethel Waters

Britannica: Ethel Waters

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Waters, Ethel, 1896-1977 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n84149705

Wikidata: Ethel Waters - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q242725

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/105261364

MusicBrainz: Ethel Waters - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ab55e9c9-d475-4fa5-a903-06ff270b1e75

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/155432

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